When SpaceX launched its Dragon space capsule atop the
Falcon 9 rocket today (Dec. 8) ? and retrieved it in the Pacific Ocean a few
hours later ? it was a first on several levels. For SpaceX, the launch marked the
inaugural voyage of the company's Dragon spacecraft.

The mission also marked the first time any private company
has successfully launched
and returned a commercial spacecraft from low-Earth orbit. Finally, the
flight was the first mission under NASA's COTS (Commercial Orbital
Transportation Services) program aimed at spurring private sector development
of space vehicles to carry crew and cargo to the International Space Station.

While rocket launches from the Cape are considered a common
occurrence, the historic significance of today's achievement by SpaceX should
not be lost.

This is the first in a new generation of commercial launch
systems that will help provide vital support to the International Space Station
and may one day carry astronauts into orbit. This successful demonstration
flight is an important milestone in meeting the objectives outlined by
President Obama and Congress, and shows how government and industry can
leverage expertise and resources to foster a new and vibrant space economy.

These new explorers are to spaceflight what Lindbergh was to
commercial aviation.

Scott Hubbard, former director of NASA's Ames Research Center in California:

This is further validation that a commercial venture -
initially almost totally privately funded - can achieve a launch and re-entry
on a schedule and at a cost much lower than typical NASA developments.

I think the SpaceX success shows that it will be possible
for NASA to buy services in low Earth orbit - thereby saving money for NASA's
true mission - exploring deep space!

Roger Launius, space history curator at Smithsonian's
National Air and Space Museum:

I was just leaving NASA HQ after a meeting this morning when
the launch was about 2 minutes away. As I walked through the lobby the
countdown was playing on the NASA TV monitor there so I, along with several
other people, stopped and watched it take off. I heard one of the folks from
the back exclaim as it cleared the launch tower, "go," and I think
that symbolized better than a lot of other comments how many from the breadth
of the space community feel about this effort. Its success is, without
question, an important step forward.

There are many steps yet to be completed on the path to
Falcon 9?s operational use. I am greatly encouraged by and applaud SpaceX?s
accomplishment. I?m looking forward to future successes. Most important, I want
to see this effort successfully fill much of the void left by the retirement of
the Space Shuttle and the sooner that happens the happier I will be.

Scott Pace, director of the Space Policy Institute at
George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Excellent news -- and a very important step in ensuring U.S.
ability to provide logistical support to the International Space Station.

I don't know this changes the landscape dramatically ? it's
another step toward achieving lower cost logistical support to low Earth orbit.
It does, however, underscore the importance of flight tests. Presentations and
press releases are one thing, actual hardware demonstrations are another, so
the team should be very proud of what they accomplished.

NASA may get the cargo capability it's counting on to fill
the gap left by the retiring shuttle. Flying Dragon atop the Falcon 9 is a
fundamental step toward meeting SpaceX's cargo commitment to NASA, and in
moving eventually toward safe and economical astronaut transport.

SpaceX deserves a lot of credit for duplicating their
initial success and orbiting and retrieving the Dragon spacecraft. It was an
ambitious flight that looked very good. NASA may make spaceflight look easy
sometimes, but this was a tough flight plan to execute for a new commercial
firm. SpaceX's equipment appears to have met a big technical challenge, and
we'll have to look for similar business success to provide NASA with cheaper
options for space cargo and astronaut transport.

Bretton Alexander, president of the Commercial
Spaceflight Federation:

This is an historic milestone in the paradigm shift from a
government space infrastructure to a private space business that will create
jobs, opportunity and benefits from technology advancement. Space is difficult,
but no more so than other high tech parts of our economy. It was a thrilling
day.

Rick Tumlinsonn, co-founder of the Space Frontier
Foundation:

This flight will go down in history as a turning point for
the opening of space to regular people. It may not be Yuri Gagarin, but it is
certainly the equivalent of Sputnik for commercial spaceflight!

Bill Nye, executive director of the Planetary Society:

Falcon 9 nailed it. We congratulate Elon Musk and his team
on a successful launch -- another step towards commercial applications that may
one day help NASA carry supplies and astronauts to low-Earth orbit. Bold
endeavors like this will advance the chances for success for everyone in the
Earth-orbit business.